TNAG-1258-FCO40-1591-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 20

CODE 18-77

Mr Clift

SECRET

Reference

MKK040/5

RECEIVED IN HEL

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: BRIEFING THE GERMANS

NDEX

и

1. We spoke about a letter which Sir J Bullard has received from his German opposite number, asking for briefing on the future of Hong Kong. I now attach the text of this letter, together with a rough translation.

2.

At present the Prime Minister's instructions on the briefing of our allies do not extend to our community partners. We have however provided defensive briefing for use by Ministers in bilateral meetings with their community opposite numbers if the subject is raised. I think it would be entirely appropriate to deal with Dr Pfeffer's request in the same way, and to supply relatively innocuous material on which Sir J Bullard can draw orally in response.

3.

I therefore recommend that Sir J Bullard's reply to Dr Pheffer might include the following passage:

"Where the negotiations on Hong Kong's future are concerned, I am afraid that I am not in a position to give you any information in writing or through our Embassy in Bonn on progress over this highly sensitive issue. I would however be happy to bring you up-to-date orally and in general terms when next we meet, perhaps in the margins of a meeting of political directors.

4. I

#1

understand from Mr Brenton that Sir J Bullard has expressed a hope that when briefing Dr Pfeffer orally he will be able to give at least as much detail as we have to our old Commonwealth allies. I think it will be necessary to explain rather carefully the Prime Minister's instructions

on this point.

22 December 1983

Colten

CO Hum

Hong Kong Department

Mr. Donald Donderd Thành

& me.

should see this. It seems

you

Дит

I

agree

Al22112

SECRET

22/12

right